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1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: windshield wiper failure

67 of the 554 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 describe windshield wiper failure.

owner complaints
67
of this car's complaints
12%
typical mileage
90,000
recalls
0
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

Windshield wiper failure by model year

  • 2024
    1
  • 2023
    4
  • 2022
    1
  • 2021
    2
  • 2019
    1
  • 2018
    2
  • 2017
    4
  • 2016
    3
  • 2015
    1
  • 2014
    9
  • 2013
    3
  • 2009
    3
  • 2008
    1
  • 2007
    4
  • 2005
    1
  • 2004
    2
  • 2003
    9
  • 2002
    4
  • 2001
    2
  • 2000
    1
  • 1999
    1
  • 1998
    54
  • 1997
    67
  • 1996
    1
  • 1994
    2

What owners say

Filed Oct 23, 2016 · Visibility · 76,000 miles · DE

The wipers just stopped working in the middle of a storm and I had to pull to the side of the road and I tried everything I could to get the wipers to work I called a friend and he said to tap the wiper motor and it did get the wipers to work until I got home and the next day I called and got a new wiper motor and installed it on my truck and I have not had a problem since. The wiper motor was not cheap and I'm on a fixed income. I would like to be reimbursed for the cost of the wiper motor I'm not worried about the time it took me to replace it. I hope that you can help me out with this matter. Thank you

Filed Aug 10, 2014 · Engine, Visibility · 164,000 miles · CA

I got the truck in 2011 and when the title came in the mail it had a note that the truck had been a dealer lemon law buyback. My problem now is the check engine light is on. I called chevrolet for some assistance and was told to have a chevrolet dealer diagnose the problem. The dealer wanted to replace most of the check engine related parts and sensors at a cost to me of about $4000.00. I think that I am being over sold. I paid the $85.00 and had 2 other test and 2 different diagnose cost from $1500 to change injectors. Another.gm recall but mileage problem. Chevrolet declined any help. I think if it was a lemon there must have had a big problem. I would like to keep the truck it still looks good. Also the wipers don't work at times there was a recall on them but age and miles may be a problem. I could use some help. Thank you.

Filed Aug 10, 2011 · Electrical, Visibility · 142,265 miles · OR

Windshield wiper defect: windshield wipers fail to operate correctly, or at all, during adverse weather conditions. This equipment failure puts a driver and all passengers at risk of harm due to inhibited visibility. Have had to suddenly change lanes on highway during heavy rain, pull off, stand on edge of door trim with traffic driving by, and push the wipers manually up and down to get them working again. Sometimes I will have to open the hood of the truck, push the fuse tight, push the wipers to start them, and then go. Our 1996 chevy suburban was recalled due to a windshield wiper defect, they have worked fine since the windshield wiper component was replaced.. I have contacted our local chevy dealership twice to have the windshield wiper defect repaired on the 1997 c1500 truck. Since the previous owner did not do it while it was under warranty, and the VIN number on the truck does not fall under the recall ( the service manager pulled up the recall and checked the VIN number of our truck against the numbers on their list on 08/06/2011 at 12:20 p.m.), they will not replace it. This is because, as it is now not under warranty, they would not be reimbursed by gm, regardless of my reminding them that not replacing it remains a safety risk to the owner of the vehicle. This has began in 2001. Since our son is going to get his license, and would like to have the truck, I would like to ensure his vehicle is a safe one. If I had known where to file a complaint regarding this matter, I would have done this 8 years ago. The dealer told me there was nothing they could do, except replace the part.

Filed Nov 17, 2010 · Visibility · 129,000 miles · MI

Very similiar to gm recall no. 03023, the federal safety agency campaign number: 03v159000. The windshield wipers fail to operate on random intermitten occasions. This failure occurs randomly and without any leading indicators. The failure occurs in the event when functionality of the wipers are most needed and hence it effects the visibility of the driver during inclement weather. There seems to be a short in the in the wiper circuit module due to crack/structure failure of the pcb (printed circuit board). There has been a recall on this same issue however on the same vehicle but only known failure VIN, not all vehicles.

Filed Mar 17, 2010 · Visibility · 114,000 miles · MT

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet k1500. Upon contacting the manufacturer to inquire about the federal safety agency recall campaign id number: 03v159000, visibility, windshield wiper/washer, he was advised that the recall could not be performed on his vehicle due to the manufacturer no longer having recall data records. The recall was reported by the manufacturer april 28, 2003. The current and failure mileages were 114,000.

Filed Jan 12, 2010 · Visibility · TN

The windshield wipers failed and then would not turn off. This make and model must be included in the recall as this is a potentially hazardous safety defect.

Filed Sep 15, 2008 · Visibility · 100,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet k1500. The contacted stated that the failure she is experiencing is related to the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v159000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer). On september 1, 2008, while her husband was driving approximately 55 MPH in the rain, the windshield wipers would not work. When he arrived home, he lifted the hood, made some adjustments, and the windshield wipers began working again. While driving approximately 50 MPH during a heavy rainstorm, the windshield wipers would not work again. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer or a mechanic. The vehicle has been parked in the contact's garage since the last failure. The current mileage was 102,000 and failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Sep 3, 2008 · Visibility · 80,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact stated that the windshield wiper motor did not function properly on her vehicle. She would have to exit the vehicle, open the hood, strike the wiper motor with a hammer or place something under it for it to function at all. Both the dealer and manufacturer offered no assistance. The current mileage was approximately 152,000 and failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

Filed May 15, 2008 · Visibility · 90,000 miles · WI

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet silverado 1500. While driving at any speed, the contact attempted to use the windshield wipers, but they would not work. The contact had to manually move the wipers in order for them to work. The failure occurs intermittently. In addition, the driver side windshield wiper extends halfway over the top of the vehicle. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current mileage was 100,772 and failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Dec 10, 2007 · Visibility · 80,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet c1500. The contact received a recall notice for the windshield wipers. He misplaced the notice, but when he took his vehicle to the dealer, they stated that his VIN did not apply to any recalls. The failure mileage was 80,000 and current mileage was 120,000. Updated 03/14/08. *lj the consumer stated the windshield wipers will not activate or turn off.

Filed Nov 1, 2007 · Visibility · 100,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 chevrolet c1500. The contact felt that his vehicle should be included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v159000 (visibility:windshield wiper/washer). While driving at an unknown speed in the rain, the windshield wipers would not work. He pulled off the road and grabbed the wiper arm blade, which caused the windshield wipers to turn on and off. The current mileage was 114,000 and failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 01-10-08. *kb updated 12/31/07

Filed Oct 25, 2007 · Visibility · MA

The wiper motor stops with no warning and I have to get out of the truck and hit the wiper motor to get it going again. I called gm about this and there was a recall for this problem but they will only fix trucks up to 1996. My truck is a 1997 model.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 wipers

Is windshield wiper failure a common problem on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

67 of 554 owner complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (12%) mention windshield wiper failure. The model year with the most reports is 1997.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.

Other symptoms on the 1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

ABS 40Fuel pump 37Jerking 28Brake failure 27Pulling 16Transmission failure 15Power steering loss 14Stalling 14Overheating 10Fuel gauge 8Door locks 6Knocking 6No deployment 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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